President Donald Trump’s announced ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico is no longer just a statement on social media. On Saturday morning, reporters from all three organizations were denied access to the White House grounds, and press credentials were deactivated or confiscated.
The move came one day after Trump said the three outlets were banned from the White House “effective immediately,” accusing them of repeatedly publishing what he called “fake news.”
CNN Reporter Says Her Pass Was Deactivated
CNN senior White House reporter Betsy Klein said she attempted to enter the White House on Saturday morning but was stopped by the Secret Service.
According to reports, an agent told her that her press pass had been deactivated. Her credential was then taken away, and she was not given a detailed explanation for why it had been revoked.
The incident marked a clear shift from Friday, when Trump had announced the ban but reporters from the affected organizations were still working from the White House.
By Saturday morning, the policy was being enforced.
MS NOW Staff Also Turned Away
The same happened to MS NOW.
CBS News observed a correspondent and cameraman being denied entry to the White House around 8 a.m. Saturday. Correspondent Akayla Gardner said she was told that her badge had been disabled when she tried to swipe in.
When she asked why she was being denied access, she said the security guard told her the decision was “above him.”
MS NOW later said it would take whatever steps were necessary to defend its First Amendment rights and the role of independent journalism.
Politico Reporters Were Also Blocked
Politico was also affected.
Reuters reported that journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were all barred from entering White House grounds Saturday. Their press credentials were confiscated or disabled as the administration began enforcing Trump’s announcement.
Politico said it stood behind its journalists and would continue covering the administration despite the restriction.
Trump Says the Reason Is “Fake News”
Trump defended the ban by saying he was tired of what he described as false or dishonest reporting.
On Friday, he accused CNN, MS NOW and Politico of publishing “fiction and lies” about him, his administration and the United States. He did not point to one specific story that triggered the action.
He also suggested that other media organizations could be targeted in the future.
That means the ban may not end with these three outlets.
Press Freedom Groups Push Back
The White House Correspondents’ Association strongly criticized the move.
WHCA President Jacqui Heinrich said the Constitution protects freedom of the press from government interference and that those protections do not depend on whether a president likes a news organization’s coverage.
The association said the issue goes beyond the rights of journalists, because the public also has a right to receive independent reporting about the actions and decisions of the government.
CNN has described the move as an illegal assault on press freedom, while MS NOW said it intends to defend its First Amendment rights.
Legal Questions Are Likely to Follow
The ban is expected to raise serious First Amendment questions.
This is not the first time the Trump administration has clashed with news organizations over White House access. During Trump’s first term, the White House attempted to revoke CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s press pass, but a federal judge ordered it restored.
The administration has also had a prolonged legal dispute with the Associated Press over access to presidential events.
Those earlier cases are likely to be cited again if CNN, MS NOW or Politico decide to challenge the current ban in court.
From Announcement to Enforcement
The most important development Saturday is that Trump’s Friday announcement has now become an actual access restriction.
Reporters are not simply being criticized or excluded from selected events. Their White House credentials have been disabled or taken away, and they are being physically prevented from entering the grounds.
That makes this a much more consequential development than the announcement alone.
The broader question now is whether the ban will survive legal challenges — and whether Trump follows through on his warning that more news organizations could be next.
Sources: CNN
By NJ RADAR Team